Chapter 5, Mansion
Miss Zhuo smiled and said, "Master Du may feel free to do as he pleases"
Du Fengchi and Miss Zhuo exchanged a few polite remarks, and he briefly introduced Xunfeng Pavilion. Just as he was considering escorting Miss Zhuo and her party all the way to Xunfeng Pavilion, a servant hurriedly ran up the stairs, looking anxious as he saw Du Fengchi conversing with Miss Zhuo.
The Ye family is now quite affluent, and with the brothers living together, they have long desired to move to a larger garden. Last spring, the Ye family purchased a piece of land by the Yongming Canal and established the Zhan Garden. However, the Governor of Yicheng, Lord Peng Detian, expressed his wish to have his elderly mother come to Yicheng for her retirement, persuading the head of the Ye family to sell the Zhan Garden to him. Although the Zhan Garden is not large, it features exquisite buildings and a beautiful courtyard. Then there is the Xunfeng Pavilion, which cost 10,000 taels of gold, yet the head of our family continually praised the young master for making a wise purchase. Last autumn, the young master of the Ye family designed a blueprint, and the eldest brother supervised the construction of the Jixiao Mountain Villa in Jiangbei, originally intending to move in by winter. However, the naval commander of Jiangbei, Lord Min Yue, expressed his fondness for the villa's name and remarked that it was inconvenient for the Ye family to conduct business with daily crossings between the two banks. He even questioned why Lord Xu Peng could take advantage of the situation while the Du family could not. Lord Min sent troops to force gold into the Ye family and moved in ahead of them. The young master of the Ye family wanted to confront Lord Min, but Lord Min kept smiling and refused to vacate the premises, ultimately leaving the young master with no choice but to accept this transaction.
"How do you say this?" asked Manager Liu playfully, referring to the illustrated book.
Zhuo? This is not a prominent surname in the Eastern Ping Kingdom. The only family that could have such a grand occasion is likely the family of Zhuo Mang, the current commander of the Eastern Ping Kingdom's military. Zhuo Mang's sister, Zhuo Xiu, is the queen of Eastern Ping, and Zhuo Mang has been stationed at the northern border with the current ruler of Eastern Ping, Tan Wenpei, for over 10 years, forging a deep bond through their shared experiences in the heat of battle
Manager Liu looked at the young lady and saw her nod slightly. He said in a deep voice, "My family's young lady's surname is Zhuo"
These statements are quite reasonable. In the capital, there are many high-ranking officials and wealthy individuals, and it is inevitable that they pay attention to appearances at home, yet they seldom consider whether their homes are suitable or comfortable. Most people simply feel that the furnishings in the hall are luxurious, and they eventually get used to living there, setting aside the question of comfort.
Manager Liu approached from behind the screen and said, "Please, Young Master Du, this way." He led Du Fengchi to a spot behind the screen, allowing him to sit in the position he had just occupied, while he himself stood behind the young lady. The position opposite the young lady was one that Du Fengchi felt he was not qualified to occupy. Du Fengchi sensed the other party's inscrutable demeanor and did not dare to contest the evaluation of his own status. He respectfully inquired, "May I ask how to address the young lady?"
The innkeeper chatted about amusing matters, and time flew by quickly. Before long, the young master of the Lingjiang Tower, Du Fengchi, had arrived. Du Fengchi appeared to be around twenty-four or twenty-five years old, dressed in a grayish-blue silk shirt, exuding an air of competence. As he listened to the innkeeper's brief introduction at the staircase, he was slightly taken aback upon hearing that the people present had not yet revealed their identities. Coming from a family of maritime merchants, the Du family had established themselves in Yicheng, yet in recent years, they had been engaged in the business of restaurants and inns. Du Fengchi, having traveled extensively, was well aware that the guards were exceptionally skilled. He noticed that the guards downstairs had finished their meals, but since their master was still upstairs, they patiently waited, ordering several pots of tea while playing "military chess." Although they attracted many idle patrons in the restaurant to watch, the guards themselves remained very quiet. This discipline, along with their fondness for military chess, was likely a display only a few elite troops in the capital could afford. The imperial guards did not shy away from leaving the capital, but who were they protecting? Who was that seemingly frail girl, as if she could be blown over by the wind?
Du Fengchi did not dare to be presumptuous; from a distance, he cupped his hands and said to the two guards, "I trouble you both to convey that Du Fengchi requests an audience." The shopkeeper could approach because he was the one waiting for the appointment, but Du Fengchi's visit was a formal greeting, and he did not dare to take this distinction lightly. If he were to rashly step forward, relying on the pleasant conversation the shopkeeper had just had with them, it would only leave a bad impression on the other party
The shopkeeper spoke in a very vivid and interesting manner, amusing both the young lady and Manager Liu greatly. Even the maids serving nearby covered their mouths and laughed.
"What kind of residence is this, that it won't even sell for one hundred thousand taels of gold?" It would be more accurate to say that Steward Liu found it somewhat hard to believe; rather, he was actively inquiring, allowing the young lady's suspicions to be addressed.
Du Fengchi immediately felt that the other party's invitation for him to sit down was indeed very polite and showed a high regard for him. He did not dare to ask too many questions and said, "It is an honor for my humble home that Miss Zhuo is willing to stay at Xunfeng Pavilion. The pavilion has been cleaned and maintained since last month and is ready for guests at any time. However, the lotus pond has not yet reached its full beauty, and the lotus buds are still immature, which may be somewhat unsightly. I hope Miss will forgive this."
Du Fengchi slightly bowed in apology, walked over and exchanged a few words with his companion, after which his expression changed. He returned to Miss Zhuo's side and performed a deep bow, saying: "I should have accompanied you all the way to Xunfeng Pavilion, but a friend has urgent matters. I hope you can forgive me, Miss."
At this point, both the young lady and Manager Liu could not help but laugh. Just imagine the expression of a 14-year-old genius boy, feeling wronged yet helpless; it must be quite amusing. As for Min Yue, he is at least a second-rank high-ranking military officer, a prominent figure in the Min family, and a person of considerable influence and knowledge. To behave so shamelessly, if such matters were to spread in the capital, it would surely leave countless people astonished.
"Young Master Du, it won't delay your matters. Just find a servant to take us there," Miss Zhuo pointed to the servant at the stairway and said
The shopkeeper bowed slightly and said: "This little old man does not know. However, the two esteemed guests have come from the capital, and if they only know that the furniture from the Ye family workshop is luxurious and splendid, that may not be enough to understand the true quality of the Ye family. The designs of the furniture from the Ye family are all crafted by the young master of the Ye family. This little old man has heard snippets from the young master, which may help answer the esteemed guests' questions. The young master of the Ye family once said that aside from the living room, all other spaces are his own, and there is no need to put on a show or care about whether others find it pleasing; the only requirement is to live comfortably. The furniture from the Ye family workshop, which may not seem grand, is indeed the most comfortable. Many wealthy families in Yicheng display a set of seemingly magnificent furniture, but privately, they use the most practical and comfortable pieces from the Ye family. The young master of the Ye family has put great thought into building his own residence, which is clearly not intended for receiving guests, and just how comfortable it is, is beyond what this little old man can speculate."
Miss Zhuo slightly nodded and said: "This is the right time; how can one force it? The Du family has graciously extended their hospitality, and I, too, would very much like to see the splendid scenery of Xunfeng Pavilion. I hope you will forgive any inconvenience caused."